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Original poster

who knows about long-term medication and the maximum length of prescriptions please

19 replies

Curmudgeonlett · 12/12/2007 18:50

because GP has suddenly turned round to DH and told him that the maximum prescription they will give is 1 month, whereas was previously 2 or 3 months worth at a time

she mentioned some new legislation

I'm livid tbh

OP posts:
Unfitmother · 12/12/2007 18:53

I've not heard about that one! I got a new 2 month prescription 2 weeks ago.

zippitippitoes · 12/12/2007 18:54

sounds like a stealth tax if ecever there was

hoxtonchick · 12/12/2007 18:56

god, i'd be furious. what a hassle.

Unfitmother · 12/12/2007 18:58

Did you ask what the legislation was?

Weegle · 12/12/2007 19:00

mine are mostly limited to 1 month's supply because the tpye of drugs/strength (v strong painkillers) but because I am on them long term and 9 dif meds it's worth a pre-pay certificate

Original poster
Curmudgeonlett · 12/12/2007 19:01

no because DH wanted to deal with it .. I've been dealing with their bloody incompetence with his meds for over 3 years. In fact when I ask to speak to the practice manager she comes out grinning saying 'oh god have they done it again'

I think it's bollocks personally .. but it is so heart-wrenchingly depressing for DH .. I thought it was all sorted

OP posts:
noddyholder · 12/12/2007 19:05

Mine are for 3 months at a time

Unfitmother · 12/12/2007 19:06

If they're controlled drugs i.e. morphine it may be true as ther has been a lot of new legislation recently.

Original poster
Curmudgeonlett · 12/12/2007 19:07

methotrexate

OP posts:
Weegle · 12/12/2007 19:33

yup one of mine is methotrexate and it's a max prescription of 4 weeks. It's fairly simple from my point of view just tick sheet once a month, drop off at surgery and then the chemist collects it from the surgery and I collect from chemist 3 days later. Yes it's a fag and each month comes round quickly, and I guess I'm fortunate as I drive past surgery daily and am walking distance to chemist.

Original poster
Curmudgeonlett · 12/12/2007 20:06

but it shouldn't be a month .. it was 3 months with monthly bloods once stabilised ... I could understand if blood tests showed anything to be concerned about, and these are done monthly anyway

it's just pants

OP posts:
flowerytaleofNewYork · 12/12/2007 20:12

Apparently this is now policy to maximise prescription charges paid, so for 3 month's supply you pay 3 lots of however much it is now. I pestered my GP to increase my prescription as I always used to have 3 months' worth. He said he couldn't because policy is now 1 month for that reason, but then relented when I pointed out that I don't pay for my prescriptions anyway.

fizzbuzz · 12/12/2007 20:13

Mine are for a max of 4 weeks, and once I had some that had to be renewed every 2 weeks. That was stupid, as soon as I picked up the prescription I would have to request a new one

littlefrog · 12/12/2007 20:17

i don't think it's legislation, I think it's health authority policy... ours have all sorts of 'rules' about not giving ordinary antihistamines, calpol, oh, lots of stuff. and yes, prescriptions don't last long. A friend has oilatum for her baby's eczema, and they'll only give her one little bottle at a time (and no repeat prescription either!) - so if she wasn't wealthy enough to pay for it herself then she'd need a WEEKLY dr's appointment. How does that save money, exactly, when children's prescriptions are FREE??!

sorry - rant: MUCH sympathy for you...

MrsGrinch · 12/12/2007 21:50

Twig - it will be a PCT money saving policy.

dd is on 3 lifelong meds - we used to get 6 months prescription at a time - now I get one month. One is aspirin so it's hardly a feckin controlled drug. It's a PITA to be perfectly honest.

tb · 30/12/2007 02:32

I went to gp for pps and asked for a 16-week supply of thyroxin instead of 8 week as we were about to emigrate and I didn't want to have to rush to the drs in the first few weeks. She told me that the pharmacy might not accept it, as if for over a certain time they only get 1 fee, but if 2 separate scripts they get 2!

amytheearwaxbanisher · 30/12/2007 02:49

my brother gets meds[and lots of different ones]on a six monthly basis if they are areeing with him,imo he personally shouldnt considerin why he needs them did your gp give reason?

vole3 · 30/12/2007 07:29

It may also be about reducing the quantity of drugs loose in the community.

If you have a months worth then if a child was to find them and take them, then that would be a set amount as opposed to 3 or 6 times that.
Also they cannot re-issue drugs, so if you were to be given 6 months worth, only take 1 tablet then have to stop the drug and return the rest, it would be wasted.

Yes, it is a PITA, I have to get my prescriptions fortnightly and will get a pre-pay certificate as soon as my maternity exemption runs out. I will also be going back to work in 2 weeks, so actually dropping off the script request and picking up the prescription and getting it filled will also be difficult. (You would think that working in a hospital would allow you to bypass the 'we're not allowed to fill community scripts' law in the hospital pharmacy but it doesn't so you either have to give up your lunch hour to drive into town and be late back as you can't find a parking space on your return or drive like a maniac to get home before 6pm to get it done and still pick up from the childminder on time)

vole3 · 30/12/2007 07:30

I think the only exception to this rule is the contraceptive pill - be a bit difficult only getting 1 months supply at a time

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